Ariel Rising

by A. J. Sparber

  He looks apologetic. “I didn’t mean to pry—”

  I cut him off because his question is not out of line and I really want him to know that I’m unattached. Mostly.

  “It’s okay,” I say with a shy smile. “And it was a fair question. I date occasionally, but I am not in an exclusive relationship.”

  “I see,” he replies, politely. “May I call you later?”

  “Yes,” I say, as I remove my phone from the porta-pocket strapped to my upper left arm.

  We exchange numbers and stroll back toward the road—at a leisurely pace.

  Davin is just what I need after my encounter with Luke. He has a calming effect on me.

  Curious. Very curious.

  Chapter 2

  Davin looks surprised when he sees the bright red Jeep Wrangler bouncing down the path toward us. “Your friend?”

  “Yes, that would be Ella.”

  “She drives a very capable vehicle,” he remarks.

  “She is a very capable driver.”

  Ella pulls up in front of us, gets out of the Jeep, and rushes to my side. “Are you okay, sweetie? Luke didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  “I’m fine, Ella. Not a scratch.” I place my hand on Davin’s arm. “This is Davin Andersen—my new neighbor.”

  She’s gawking. Guess I can’t blame her. “Howdy, neighbor! Nice to meet you. Did you scare Luke off? You look as if you could,” she says, offering her hand.

  Davin smiles and shakes her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ella. I’m not sure if I scared Luke away. Let’s just say I helped him to decide that hanging around would not be in his best interests.”

  Ella chuckles. “I like your attitude, Davin. Confidence without arrogance. It’s a real skill.”

  “You should know,” I say with a wink.

  She gives me a big smile. Ella and I have been friends since we were toddlers. She’s classically pretty—tall and graceful, with wavy, straw-colored hair, hazel eyes, a fabulous figure, and a perpetually impish grin that masks a razor-sharp mind. And she probably knows me better than I know myself.

  “Let’s go folks,” Ella says, as she slides into the Jeep.

  Davin hops in back, and I ride shotgun.

  Ella puts the Jeep in gear and we bounce up the rocky path toward the road as if we were shot out of a cannon. Had I asked Ella to slow down, she’d have sped up—so I hold my tongue and the large grab handle on the Jeep’s dashboard.

  As we speed along Valley Road, toward home, I tell her what happened. But I sense that Ella is not buying it.

  “Come on, Davin administered the beating. Right?”

  Davin shakes his head. “It was all Ari.”

  “It was,” I say. “Perhaps I had an adrenaline surge?”

  She gives me a strange look, so I try again.

  “Hysterical strength?”

  Ella wrinkles her brow. “You hit him in the nose? Then you hit him in the jaw…and knocked him out?”

  I nod.

  “Okay, sweetie. If you say so.”

  Nope, she’s not buying it at all.

  There are issues I cannot explain. Issues that defy explanation. When Luke attacked me, he seemed to be moving in slow motion. There was no way I could have missed hitting him. And how was I able to run so far, so fast? Did I lose track of time? There is no logical explanation.

  But if I did run that fast, Davin must have, too. Oh, man.

  Davin’s house is just across the road from mine. Ella drops him off, makes a quick U-turn, then pulls into my driveway.

  “He’s really hot, sweetie. Let me know right now if you want him, or he’s mine,” she says with an exaggerated drawl.

  “For heaven’s sake, I just met the guy today.”

  “Yeah, me too,” she says with a smirk.

  “Stop it!” I say, as I roll my eyes. “You already have a boyfriend.”

  “So you do want him. I knew it! But you’ve got Galen. What about Galen, huh? He’s pretty dang hot, too.”

  “There is nothing serious between Galen and me.” Did I just say that? Where did that come from?

  “Well, I’ve heard he’s totally into you. You better tell him you just met the man of your dreams, sweetie, because the way you just watched Davin walk away from this car was very PG-13, in my humble opinion.”

  “Ella, you don’t have humble opinions. Why don’t we go inside so we can start planning the wedding. Okay?”

  “Nice!” Ella exclaims. She’s grinning from ear to ear.

  But I’m not grinning, because I can’t figure out what changed. This morning I liked Galen. A lot. Now? Not so much. It’s as if Davin entered my consciousness and made himself right at home. I can’t stop thinking about him, which frightens me, because I never obsess over guys. Never.

  “Hi, Ari. Hi, Ella,” Mom calls out from the kitchen, as we walk inside the house. “Come here. I need to tell you something.”

  Mom is in full gourmet chef mode. The scent of her famous roasted chicken hovers in the air like ambrosia.

  “Hi, Mom,” I say.

  “Hi, Doc. Something smells fabulous,” Ella says.

  Mom turns and raises an eyebrow as she looks me up and down.

  “What happened to you? You look…are you okay?”

  “It’s a long story, Mom. I’m perfectly fine. I just got into a little tussle with Luke.”

  “Sit down and define exactly what you mean by ‘a little tussle,’ young lady.”

  Mom sits across from me and folds her arms, awaiting my report. She has that special look in her eyes that tells me there is absolutely no escape until she gets full disclosure.

  I take a deep breath and begin…

  “I was running along Valley Road when a car pulled over and stopped, just ahead of me. It was Luke. He nudged me down the trail, and then we argued. It seems he would like to rekindle our romance. You can imagine how that went.”

  “I imagine he hasn’t gotten any smarter since I last talked to him?”

  “He’s worse. He kept trying to kiss me. When I told him to stop, he wouldn’t. I was somewhere between mad as a hornet and scared—and I snapped. I hit him in the nose…”

  Mom cuts in. “You hit Luke? Really?”

  “As crazy as it sounds, I did. And then he charged, and I hit him again, and he kind of got knocked out.”

  “Honey, people either get knocked out or they don’t. There is no kind of—at least from a clinical perspective. What exactly makes you believe he was unconscious?”

  “Well, his eyes were closed tight and he didn’t move.”

  “Ari, where is Luke now? Was he still lying there when you left?”

  “No. After I hit him, I panicked and bolted up to the Falls. I didn't know it, but our new neighbor, Davin Andersen, saw it all—the kiss, the hit, and my running away. Davin stopped to make sure Luke was okay, but Luke went after him. Davin punched him in the stomach and watched him stumble away.”

  “So Luke was gone when you left the park?”

  “Yes.”

  Mom grabs her phone and makes a call.

  “Janice, this is Andi…

  “Yes, I know. Are you feeling better?…

  “That’s good….

  “I have a favor to ask…

  “Thanks. A close friend of Ari’s was injured today, and we wanted to make sure he was okay…

  “I know…

  “His name is Luke Blanton. Is he still in the ER?”

  Dr. Janice Ellison runs the ER at Edgewood Memorial Hospital. She and Mom attended medical school together and are very good friends. They are probably breaking a few patient disclosure rules, but...

  Mom ends the call and looks at me. “You seem to have had quite an impact on Luke. His nose is broken, and he has a grade three concussion, which means no sports for at least a month. But he should be fine.”

  “Oh, wow.” I grab the sides of my head and moan. “How could I have done that to him?”

  “You’re a strong healthy girl, honey. Noses
are not all that difficult to fracture—especially if you struck him just right. Give me the blow-by-blow. Tell me exactly what happened. And please stop staring at my nose.”

  I explain as best as I can. When I finish, Mom rests her chin in her hands and pauses for a moment before responding.

  “A direct blow to the bridge of the nose could easily cause a fracture. I think you have the strength to do that. As for the concussion, the fact that he was running toward you enabled you to generate significantly more power than if he’d been a stationary target—enough power to cause a concussion—especially if you consider that he probably hit his head when he fell…” She pauses, covering my hand with hers. “And I do not want you to feel any remorse. Had you not incapacitated him, it could have been far worse.”

  I shudder as I think about what could have happened. “Yes, it definitely could have been worse.”

  “What I don’t understand is how an accomplished athlete could let someone so much smaller get the upper hand. We’ll have to do a superpower scan on you.” She gives me a crooked grin and continues. “I’ll call Sheriff Johnson and let him know what happened. I don’t think we need to press charges, but I do want to make sure we have this on record. You might need to meet with a deputy and fill out a report.” Mom scowls and looks pissed. “I never liked that boy, Ari. He’s out of control. If he comes near you, I want you to call 911 immediately. Okay?”

  I nod. “Did Dr. Ellison mention Luke’s ribs?”

  She suppresses a chuckle. “Yes. He suffered a nondisplaced fracture of the seventh rib. It’s not serious.”

  “Davin must have hit him pretty hard, huh?”

  Mom raises an eyebrow. “It would seem that he did. Why don’t you get cleaned up. Davin and his aunt will be our guests for dinner—in about one hour. If you are still interested in how hard he hit Luke, you can ask him yourself. Better get busy.” She smiles as if she’s just discovered a cure for the common cold.

  “Oh no! I’m a mess!” I exclaim, turning toward Ella, who seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself…at my expense.

  “Sweetie,” Ella says, “I’ll make sure you clean up real good…because I think—

  “Please don’t think. Not now. Can you just help me get ready? Please?”

  “Of course, sweetie.”

  “Honey,” Mom says, straight-faced, “I’ve met him. I know he’s gorgeous. Now go get ready for dinner.” Then she turns with a flourish…and giggles. She actually giggles.

  After a much-needed hot shower, I feel invigorated, as Ella goes to work on me. It’s truly amazing what that girl can do with a makeup kit and a curling iron in less than thirty minutes. Of course, she also picks out my clothes—black skinny jeans, a red V-neck top, and black ballet flats.

  I feel chic.

  Ella stands behind me as I look in the mirror. “You look hot, sweetie.”

  “Thanks Ella. You really can work wonders.”

  “You’ve got the assets to work with—silky black hair, hypnotic gray eyes, a million-dollar smile, and an amazing figure—when you’re not hiding it under running clothes.”

  I’m such a tomboy. If it wasn’t for Mom and Ella, my entire wardrobe would consist of running clothes, jeans, and casual tops. Practical? Yes. But I have this sudden urge to take a more hands-on role in my appearance.

  “Thanks, Ella. I don’t know what I’d do without you. We’ll have to go shopping. I think it’s time my wardrobe grew up. You know?”

  “That’s my girl,” she says, smiling proudly.

  I’m about to say something, when I feel a tingle. It starts along my scalp and works its way down my entire body. And then the doorbell rings.

  Ella looks at me and laughs. “Remember, he’s just a guy. Okay?”

  “Got it.”

  “Shall we go?”

  “Sure. No biggie. He’s just a guy, after all.”

  “Just don’t forget it between here and the front door.”

  I’m in serious trouble because Davin is not just a guy. Nope.

  Chapter 3

  After introductions, Ella leaves for a dinner date with her boyfriend Tom—but not before telling Davin and me what an adorable couple we make.

  Much to my relief, dinner goes without a hitch. Davin’s Aunt Thalia is charming and down to earth—and insists I call her Thalia. Actually, Davin calls her Thalia, too, which seems a little strange to me—except when you consider that she looks far too young to be his aunt. She could easily pass for his sister. Or his girlfriend.

  Her chocolate-colored hair is tightly wound into a bun, making her look a bit matronly. But she is very pretty. And she looks really nice in jeans and a sweater—a blue sweater that matches her eyes.

  Mom is in top social form, while Davin is charming and engaging. And a sight to behold in a muscle-hugging polo shirt over faded jeans.

  As it turns out, Thalia is a molecular biologist, so she and Mom have a lot in common. After dinner, they talk shop. It sounds interesting, but I really want to socialize with Davin, so I invite him on a tour of the backyard, the highlight of the Worthington homestead.

  The house has been in Dad’s family for several generations and is situated on one hundred very beautiful acres comprised of pine forest, woodland paths, a ten-acre spring-fed lake, a large expanse of lawn, and a formal garden near the house—which is Mom’s domain. Gardening is her favorite hobby. She does planting and pruning, while I take care of weeding, feeding, and mulching.

  As Davin and I walk toward the lake, a nearly-full moon illuminates our path. “This is really beautiful,” he says. “How large is your property?”

  “A little over a hundred acres.”

  “That’s a lot of land. It must be difficult to take care of.”

  “Most of it is natural. The lawn area is manageable, and I’m an expert tractor pilot,” I say, smiling.

  “Do you swim in the lake?”

  “When it’s really hot. But the water snakes and snapping turtles creep me out, especially since I can’t see to the bottom. Mostly, I like to sit beside the lake and contemplate life.”

  “So, this is your personal Walden Pond.” Half his face is bathed in soft moonlight, making him look angelic.

  “It is. Oh, and Renegade Falls is only about a mile through the woods.” I point in the general direction. “The scenery along the way is spectacular.”

  “Are you still willing to take me there?”

  “Sure. If you still want to go,” I say, trying to hide my excitement.

  His right eye twitches slightly. “I do.” Then he pulls out his phone and starts to type.

  I chuckle. “Important call?”

  He holds out a hand, motioning me to wait. “Weather looks perfect for Saturday. Sunny and mid-eighties. You like picnics?”

  “I love picnics. And it would be a shame to waste the warm weather. It’s usually in the sixties this time of year.”

  “Then it’s a date,” he says.

  “Yeah, I guess it is,” I reply, suppressing a sudden impulse to jump up and down.

  “Saturday at eleven?”

  “Perfect.”

  “Great. I’ll take care of the supplies. We’ll meet here and take the scenic route to the Falls. Okay?”

  “I’m in.” Then a thought flits into my head. “Wear a swimsuit so we can go behind the Falls. It’s totally cool.”

  He arches his brow and nods, which causes me to blush. I’m curious. I’ve never reacted like this before. Then I realize. I’ve never met a guy like Davin before.

  “So, are there usually a lot of hikers at the Falls on weekends?”

  “Actually, no. It’s one of many waterfalls in the park and it’s not all that accessible. It’s small, intimate, and the closest parking is at least a two-mile hike. Ella and I go there a lot and we rarely, if ever, see another soul. I’m afraid you’re probably going to be alone with me,” I say with a raised brow.

  Davin gazes into my eyes. I hold his gaze, refusing to blink.

  “A
ri, you have the most interesting eyes I’ve ever seen. They are like pools of liquid silver. I…”

  He pauses and places his hands on my shoulders, which causes my heart to race. I don’t know where to put my hands. Should I hug him? Should I…

  “Ari…?”

  I shake my head rapidly. “Sorry. Mom says I have my dad’s eyes. He died when I was a little girl. I…”

  His smile fades. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t upset you.”

  “You didn’t. It’s just been a very long and trying day.”

  I want to melt into his arms. I really do.

  “That it has,” he says.

  And with that little exchange, all hope for a romantic interlude dissolves.

  When we arrive back at the house, Thalia and Mom are talking as if they’ve been friends and colleagues for years. “So you see, Andi, the key to eliminating genetic issues starts with mtDNA. My approach is to intervene, preventing transmission of bad DNA from parent to child.”

  “Your approach is brilliant, Thalia,” Mom says, just as Davin and I enter the room.

  “We’re back,” I say cheerfully.

  “Did you have a nice walk?” Thalia asks.

  “Yes,” Davin answers, smiling.

  Thalia smiles back. “It’s getting late and Ari has school tomorrow. We should go.” She turns to Mom. “Andi, dinner was delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed your company. Perhaps when I get settled in at the Institute we can meet and discuss my research.”

  “I would like that very much, Thalia,” Mom replies.

  “Excellent,” Thalia says. “I will call you soon.”

  “Your chicken was magnificent, Dr. Worthington,” Davin remarks. “And Ari, I really enjoyed our time together. I cannot wait until Saturday.”

  Thalia and Mom seem to raise their brows in unison, which makes me smile.

  “Goodnight,” I say, as Davin and Thalia leave.

  Mom places a steaming pot of tea on the table and motions me over to sit with her. As she fills our cups, a warm smile spreads across her face. She looks as if she is about to say something, but thinks better of it as her lips squeeze into a thin line. Then her smile returns and she speaks. “I guess Galen won’t be coming around anymore?”